By Evan Goldberg February 28, 2016
Dr. Berkowitz is currently a part of an organization called FDAC, In this organization, she is known as a collaboratively trained child specialists that aims to assist families or children in crisis to resolve their problems through her knowledge and expertise. ...read more
By Mike Smith 3 February 03, 2016
Mick Gallinson Psy. D. is special. I have had the privilege of learning from her her in several different capacities: as a therapist she brings warmth, compassion, a subtle tenderness, and a core, almost inexplicable feeling of safety. All of this combined with her knowledge and expertise makes her a true healer. I can`t wait to keep learning from her-- we are lucky to have her! ...read more
By mt873180 January 14, 2016
I have worked with Dr. Alice for more than 2 years as a fellow therapist. We have shared numerous cases together where we work with different family members to address family issues. I have constantly observed her to be compassionate, brilliant, and an extremely powerful therapist. She really cares her customers. Highly recommended. ...read more
The terms "shyness" and "social anxiety" get thrown around a lot these days, usually without proper regard for what they mean. While many individuals use these terms interchangeably, the fact of the matter is that they represent different types of behavior. In other words, there is a big difference between shyness and social anxiety. Do you have a shy individual in your life? Wondering if he or she might actually suffer from social anxiety? If so, this blog post should be of assistance to you. Here are the differences between being shy and having social anxiety. Shyness Almost everyone has experienced shyness at some point in their life. The American Psychological Association explains shyness as "the tendency to feel awkward, stressed, or tense during social encounters, especially with unfamiliar people." How Does a Shy Person Feel? Shy individuals often suffer from low self-esteem. As a result, they often feel as though they're below those around them. Because of this, they also feel as if their opinions and thoughts lack the validity of their peers'. While shy individuals might share their thoughts from time to time, they become very apprehensive while doing so. To a shy person, new types of social interactions are uncomfortable occasions. How Does a Shy Person Act? Shy individuals are all different, but they do share some behavioral traits. The first thing you'll notice about shy people is their general hesitance to engage in conversation. While it's possible to have a discussion with a shy individual, you will most likely have to lead the way. Shy people are not known for volunteering information about themselves. This is especially true when with people whom they've recently met. However, as you spend more and more time with a shy individual, he or she is likely to open up around you. In fact, when with their friends and their families, shy people can be talkative and open. Social Anxiety The Anxiety and Depression Association of America or the ADAA defines social anxiety as "the intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social performance situation." While social anxiety shares similarities with shyness, it's regarded as more severe and extreme. How Does a Person With Social Anxiety Feel? Like shy individuals, those with social anxiety often suffer from low self-esteem. In many cases, past trauma will inform their condition, causing them to feel fearful of social interactions. Because of this, they find themselves planning every potential social interaction in their lives. By doing so, they hope to avoid real or perceived negative judgments of their words, voice, facial expressions, and otherwise. How Does a Person With Social Anxiety Act? Those suffering from social anxiety come in all types. While some are total recluses, others are begrudging social participants. Nonetheless, they all share some behavioral similarities. The biggest tell that someone suffers from social anxiety is if he or she goes to great lengths to either lessen or eliminate social interaction. For instance, a social anxiety sufferer might plan in great detail before a simple trip to a restaurant so that he or she can speak as little as possible. In extreme cases, they'll forego activities entirely. For instance, instead of having to do a presentation in front of his or her class, a person with social anxiety might skip the presentation and take a 0 on the assignment. Socially anxiety-ridden individuals are dominated by their condition. They miss out on social interactions, careers, and experiences due to the fear of being judged by others. So, What are the Differences? While shyness and social anxiety share characteristics, they are quite different. To put it simply, social anxiety sufferers experience more severe symptoms than do shy individuals. For instance, while a shy person will grow accustomed to a specific situation after enough exposure to it, an anxious person will struggle to ever grow accustomed to the situation. In fact, anxious people will often do everything they can to avoid situations which make them uncomfortable. Another way to show the contrast between shyness and social anxiety is by showing how the two conditions affect afflicted individuals' lives. For example, while shyness may temporarily prevent an individual from pursuing his or her dreams, it will generally not deter that person entirely. In contrast, social anxiety can cause a person to give up on his or her dreams entirely, to the point that it leads to depression and a lack of motivation. Unlike with shyness, there is an irrational component to social anxiety. Shy people feel shy because they're experiencing new situations and are not quite sure of how to navigate them yet. Those suffering from social anxiety will feel anxious regardless of how many times they've experienced a specific situation. They're not uncomfortable due to the fact that the situation is a new one. They're uncomfortable due to possible judgments or disagreements that may arise. Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness Both social anxiety and shyness tend to have a negative impact on the lives of those who suffer from them. For this reason, they often need to be overcome. The steps for overcoming both conditions are similar. The only difference is that those with social anxiety may have to utilize even more extreme treatment. In both cases, exposure therapy is hugely important. Exposure therapy includes planning social situations and living through those situations. As time passes, the severity of the situations will be amped up to pose more of a challenge. Generally, in those with severe cases of social anxiety, psychological therapy is needed. A therapist can help a socially anxious individual in a few ways. First, the therapist can help the individual to develop necessary social skills. Then, the therapist can help the individual to navigate specific social situations. In all cases, cognitive behavioral therapy can be exceedingly helpful. Do You Suffer from Social Anxiety? While shyness can negatively affect one's life, it has nowhere near the debilitating effect of social anxiety. That's why, when a person suffers from social anxiety, he or she is urged to seek professional help. Looking for professional help for your social anxiety? If so,Blair Wellness Groupcan help. We are one of the premierpsychological therapyorganizations in the Beverly Hills area. As such, we have helped countless individuals to combat their long-standing social anxiety. We look forward to helping you next. Schedule an appointment today! ...read more
By Dr. Cassidy F. Blair, Licensed Psychologist April 10, 2019
With the aim of providing a platform to connect people around the globe, registrations for conference 2018 are open. Candidates are free to choose among multidisciplinary conference and medical conference, for acquiring international experience worth gaining. ...read more
By academicfora August 26, 2017
You can count on Sophie Duriez, M.D. Psychiatrist for compassionate psychiatric treatment of young adults 18-40, including ADHD treatment and other help. ...read more
By DR. SOPHIE DURIEZ M.D. APC October 06, 2014
Mental health care referral can be a scary process for many people. Going to a doctor or medical setting to get assessed for mental health services may be more scary than the mental illness. Although a doctor or qualified mental health provider will still have to approve the services, it is quite easy... ...read more
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurs in people who have suffered a significant trauma such as a victim of a violent crime, or a soldier who has been deployed to a combat zone. Often times, suffers of PTSD find themselves reliving the trauma which makes it difficult and stressful for them to mov... ...read more
